June 30, 2013 Checking Chinikundl

Communications a bit unclear ... hesitation after yesterday's soggy weather and today's uncertain ...
On 10 minutes notice we headed out to walk the Chinekundl loop which DW and his high school student assistant have recently been clearing.

These are great routes, mostly old abandoned logging roads which have been cleared of the winter blow downs ... chain saw work, with some drainage work in the future and signage is coming soon. The bridges make the crossings easy ... some bear sign but they seem to be off looking for berries.

The old camper still hasn't been removed ... Forestry isn't interested ... anybody interested in helping?

Special thanks to all those that are doing and/or supporting the work so we can all enjoy these hikes ... the lower loop today, while 75% uphill through the forest, meant a steeper shorter walk down the road  - took less than 2 hours.

Reflection of a tiny plant in a puddle ...

Up the Hill Hike with Language training

Another gorgeous day so off we went on a delayed Birthday Hike with Dan and his family ... we headed up the Sleeping Beauty road to find and "Y" and the signs to head to our Slatechuck Hike but first we drove up to see where the "Connector" and the "new" Sleeping Beauty routes were.

A few trees are leaning precariously cross the road ... but navigable. The road is just "ok" many potholes but who is in a hurry anyway - just go slowly.

The information signs, from the Island Hikers project are holding up well ... the trail has had some work done ... thanks for the alder chunk bridge and the steps dug in the bank.

Today it felt like walking in Bear Ally ... there were bear signs everywhere along the grass and clover trails! Different ages and different composition! So being wise hikers we kept up a conversation, just to allow the bears to know that we too were there. Some of the conversation was in Tagalog ... so if we go to some of the Hash-runs in the Philippines we will know what they are saying when we need to hurry up!

Great hike, great views .... quite different from the last visit.

January 2013 ... oh what a difference!

The Third Annual Sea Asparagus Hunt - June 5, 2013

It was judged that the weather would be good and the tides were right if we left at 8:30 .... so we did, 5 of us ... gumboots, hikers, dancing shoes, and running shoes  ... some of the group, did training runs; one member danced up the beach and three others trudged on 45 minutes to the spot ...chatting or book listening.

The weather while not cold was a little more threatening than expected as none of us had any rain gear  ... and we didn't need it at all!

Once  to our favourite spot we spread out to pick or cut away ... thinking of winter meals of fresh frozen hand harvested greens.

Generally a nice and productive walk ... the work begins when you get home .... 5 changes of water, then picking over [picking clean is a saving grace at this point] then boiling water baths, towel drying, and then into the freezer bags.

Almost a perfect day - if you sit down in a good patch to pick and you are listening to a good book you pick more than you expect!